Ravens rest on black volcanic rock where gray sea flows into the horizon of darkening sky. Each has pulled into himself, listening in the caverns of mind to the god’s call.There is no good news to carry home.Valkyrie have busied themselves over bleeding earth. Raven eyes have seen beating wings, horsesmad and wild, snorting their steamy breath over a hundred fields where men fight and groan and die. Women watch fires burn all night, too many bodies for grave mounds or graceful ships filled with gold and gear, too many starving children, too many angry dogs. The ravens rustle black wings and rise, seeking currents that will carry them back to the tree and the god with a single eye, blinded with smoky tears.

Mind and Memory fly the end is here not near but herethe machine goes on but Mind and Memory will not returnnot this timenot everFear realized strong men shuffle there is no regret in this nowthere is peace for somestillness and simplicityothers fight till they understandthe ravens will not return Mind and Memorygonein this hateful now